Workwhistle - Latest Blog Entries

Smile! It just might be a good career move

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:53:00 -0500

For Jackie Donovan, director of marketing and merchandising at Fairway Market, coming to the office every morning is a joy, despite the long hours.

Donovan manages 30 employees and fields approximately 600 e-mails every day. Although she's never worked harder in a role with "no typical hours," she's also never been happier. This happiness, she notes, trickles into her team's productivity and morale as well.

"There's a definite correlation between happiness and productivity on the team," says Donovan.

Jessica Pryce-Jones, author of "Happiness at Work" and CEO of iOpener, says Donovan isn't alone in her assumptions.

"Happiness at work is closely correlated with greater performance and productivity as well as greater energy, better reviews, faster promotion, higher income, better health and increased happiness with life. So it's good for organizations and individuals, too."...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38740796/ns/business-forbescom/

Work from home, save money and time

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:46:00 -0500

COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) - Teleworking, or working from home, one day a week saves an average of 78 hours of commute time every year, or nine work days.

The Clean Air Campaign has teamed up with Georgia employers to get more employees working from home.

One local teleworker, Cheryl Rodewig, tells News Leader Nine that not only does working from home save her time and money; it also changed her attitude about work. It is more comfortable at home, fewer interruptions. I work better and faster, I think," said Rodewig.

She is a writer for The Bayonet. Two years ago her supervisor suggested she telework on days she is just interviewing and writing. Now, she spends her Mondays and Fridays traffic free.

It is estimated that you can save $780 a year in wear and tear and gas money by teleworking just one day a week. Teleworkers also increase productivity by an average of 15 - 20 percent...

http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=13044721

Florida work-at-home, job schemes targeted in crackdown

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:20:00 -0600

Sun-Sentinel
Envelope stuffing, assembly and craft work, rebate processing and medical bills are common work-at-home jobs promoted byunscrupulous operations, ...
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-work-at-home-schemes-20100217,0,2546821.story

Starting a Business During the Holidays

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:38:00 -0600

South Carolina News - Charleston,SC,USA

Are the End of the Year Holidays a Good Time to Start a Business?

While you’re running around to shops looking for last minute gifts or baking up a storm in the kitchen and worrying about getting your holiday decorations in place, it’s probable that you’re not thinking about starting a business at this time of year. But are there any benefits to doing so?

Advantages to Starting a Business During the Holidays

There may be a few advantages to starting a business at the end of the year – say between Thanksgiving and Christmas or whatever seasonal holidays you celebrate in December, including:

* Most shoppers are in a buying mood. If you plan to sell products this could work to your advantage, especially if you plan on starting a business that involves selling gift items.
* You may be able to reap some tax advantages by starting a business before the end of the year, specifically by capturing some deductions, including, but not limited to office-in-home tax deductions.
* Because stores are very competitive and offer extended sales during the holidays, you might be able to find some good deals on the supplies and equipment your need for starting a business, so you might conceivably get a bit of a break on your start up costs.

Disadvantages to Starting a Business During the Holidays

Besides the fact that most of us feel unduly stressed during the holidays, there are other reasons why you might not want to take the plunge and start your own business just yet, including:

* Starting a business isn’t something you should do on a whim...

http://news.sc/2009/11/17/starting-a-business-during-the-holidays/

TrendyIndie.com Connects Independent Artists and Crafters with Today's Hippest Shoppers

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:40:00 -0500

Some of the sellers are work-at-home moms who are trying to balance family lives with careers...
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS131406+08-Sep-2009+PRN20090908

Work at home data entry jobs- are they for real?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:02:00 -0500

Examiner.com - USA
Are work from home data entry jobs real? Yes they are real. They are rarely advertised because they are in extreme demand especially if the position is open ...
<http://www.examiner.com/x-16185-Atlanta-Telecommuting-Examiner~y2009m7d8-Work-at-home-data-entry-jobs-are-they-for-real>

Working from Home: The Essential Questions

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:39:00 -0500

IT-Director.com - USA
Staff certainly prefer working from home; a recent survey carried out by Avaya found that 78% of staff would prefer the ability to work from home over a pay ...
<http://www.it-director.com/business/content.php?cid=11387>

Become a virtual home-based apointment setter

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:48:00 -0500

Become a virtual home-based apointment setter with Blue Zebra Examiner.com - USA
Do you have a winning attitude and strong communication skills? If you answered yes, then Blue Zebra is the perfect work from home job for you.

The following is a review of the company to give you an idea of the services that they provide as well as the position you will carry if you decide to apply.

Q. What is Blue Zebra?

A. Blue Zebra is a virtual company that specializes in appointment setting...

<http://www.examiner.com/x-12800-Jacksonville-Work-from-Home-Examiner~y2009m7d3-Become-a-virtual-homebased-apointment-setter-with-Blue-Zebra--a--real-work-from-home-job-review>

Website helps stay at home moms find work

Sat, 23 May 2009 09:48:00 -0500

abc13.com - Houston,TX,USA

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- In these tough economic times, more and more stay at home moms are facing tough decisions. Do they go back to work or spend time with their kids? Now a new website, created here in Houston, aims at letting moms do both.

Call it sort of a career builder for moms. It's a website that puts stay at home moms in contact with companies looking to hire them. It was developed by a Spring woman who knows first-hand the very challenges her customers face.

When it comes to raising kids and keeping a job, Lesley Pyle knows it's not always easy.

"If a mom has to commute and work a 40, 50, or 60-hour work week, there's almost no time left in the day to enjoy your family,"...

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6828294

Work-from-home program secures federal funds

Fri, 22 May 2009 11:53:00 -0500

Calgary Herald - AB, Canada
By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary HeraldMay 22, 2009 3:03 AM

Myth: If I can't see my employees in the office, then they aren't really working.

Truth: Data consistently show that an employee who teleworks two days per week is 15 to 40 per cent more productive than their office counterparts.

With that reality check, the federal government announced Thursday it was contributing up to $800,000 under Transport Canada's ecoMOBILITY program for a new telework initiative developed by Calgary Economic Development in partnership with the City of Calgary and the Calgary Regional Partnership.

"WORKshift--Think Out-side the Office" will develop a plan that supports telework programs throughout the Calgary region by raising public awareness of the benefits of teleworking and providing businesses with specific guidance and support in planning, designing and implementing telework programs.

"WORKshift will give Calgary businesses the necessary tools, support, research and best practices to successfully design telework solutions for their organizations," said Bruce Graham, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development. "Through the WORKshift initiative, we will continue to foster Calgary's reputation of innovation, global competitiveness and sustainability."

Aundrea Sebjanic of the City of Calgary's human resources department said the city conducted a pilot project on telework in 2007 from May to September. After that, senior managers were approached with the idea and shown the need to introduce another flexible work option for city workers.

The permanent program was launched in March.

"It's proving to be successful. We have an uptake in employee satisfaction," said Sebjanic, who works every Monday from home

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Work+from+home+program+secures+federal+funds/1619413/story.html

Aussies workers take pay cut to work from home

Tue, 19 May 2009 07:35:00 -0500

Dynamic Business - Sydney,NSW,Australia
New research has found that a growing number of Aussie workers are willing to take a pay cut in order to be able to work from home.

The independent research commissioned by Citrix Online and released as part of a report: ‘Worldwide Workplace: The Web Commuting Imperative’ has found that nearly one fifth of Australian workers would give up five percent of their salary to work from home.

But the reality does not meet the desire. The results highlight a growing trend among Aussie workers seeking flexible working practises in such a tough financial climate; however while 58 percent of full-time workers expressed a strong desire to work remotely, 66 percent do not have the ability to do so.

Joseph Sweeney, Advisor, IBRS, a member of the Worldwide Workplace Council, said the research findings pointed to several challenges in the implementation of remote working, in particular among small businesses...

http://www.dynamicbusiness.com/articles/articles-news/aussies-workers-take-pay-cut-to-work-from-home3571.html

How To Make Money Working From Home

Mon, 18 May 2009 15:38:00 -0500

WPXI.com - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
PITTSBURGH -- Niffer Desmond of Brookline is an artist who has finally been able to give up her day job to work from home.

The former graphics designer now sells her handmade steampunk jewelry at her 19moons store on Etsy.com. Etsy.com is a Web site where anyone can sell what they make. Sellers open a store for free, pay 20 cents to list an item and Etsy gets 3.5 percent of the price the items sells for. What makes this site unique is only hand made or vintage goods can be sold on Etsy, no commercial products are allowed.

Desmond has been selling on the site for about a year and said, "I’m surprised at how well it’s taken off for me.” She makes jewelry from recycled machinery like typewriters and old watches. Prices on her pieces range from $20 to $120 and she’s selling two to three pieces a day.

Desmond said, “My income is based directly or indirectly on my own creative process. It's nice to make a living off of that.” Kelly Chess of North Versailles isn't ready to give up her day job as a paralegal just yet, but she is bringing in lots of money by selling jewelry she makes on Etsy. This isn't her first time selling online. Several years ago Chess sold clothing and other items on eBay, while working full time. The money she made with that venture helped make a dream come true. “All the profits I made on eBay, I saved my money and purchased a place on Lake Erie,” said Chess.

After buying her lake house, Kelly stopped selling on eBay, but living by the water got her started on her next Internet sales adventure. She makes jewelry out of sea glass collected from the beach in front of her Lake Erie home and sells it at her store...
http://www.wpxi.com/consumer/19495013/detail.html

Out of office, in work: new trend of flexibility

Sat, 09 May 2009 01:31:00 -0500

The Age - Melbourne,Australia
JAMES Marburg is very adaptable when it comes to work.

A rare break in training for the Olympic silver medallist rower gives him a chance to pull out his laptop computer and squeeze in a few hours' work in a boat shed, in lieu of a city office.

Mr Marburg works for ANZ Bank as a communications adviser. He reflects the new, flexible Australian workforce.

Figures from the Bureau of Statistics show nearly a quarter of Australian workers do some of their work each week away from the office.

Nearly 2.5 million Australian employees take work home, fit it into weekends, or in Mr Marburg's case, squeeze it in around training for the London Olympics.

More than a third said the need to "catch up" was the reason they brought work home, while 22 per cent said having an office at home with no rent or overheads was the reason to eschew the water cooler conversations and communal fridge.

Men in managerial positions were most likely to work from home (31 per cent), followed by technicians and tradesmen (18 per cent), while women working from home were most likely to be professionals (39 per cent) or clerical and administrative workers (23 per cent).

Eight per cent, or one in 12 Australian workers, work more from home than any other place. The majority (83 per cent) of those were aged 35 years or older, and most (55 per cent) were women.

<http://www.theage.com.au/national/out-of-office-in-work-new-trend-of-flexibility-20090508-ay0q.html>

Working from home - one long coffee break?

Fri, 08 May 2009 02:24:00 -0500

VatorNews - San Francisco,CA,USA
Throughout the history of humanity, people have worked alone. Whether it was a fisherman or a hunter, this breed of people basically worked on their own, without set schedules or breaks.

In the midst of our global recession today, we see many tech companies going 'virtual', where those employees work from home and communicate via email and telephone, eliminating the need to pay for office space. In essence, working in solidarity like those hunters and fisherman of many years ago.

Some argue and question, where's the accountability with working from home? Is it simply one long coffee break?
<http://vator.tv/news/show/2009-05-07-working-from-home-one-long-coffee-break>

At-home work scams 'on the rise'

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:33:00 -0600

Scammers targeting people who want to work from home are using the downturn in the economy as a chance to cash in, the Office of Fair Trading says.

Firms tricking people into thinking they can earn easy money, cost UK victims £70m a year, the OFT estimates.

And it believes that figure is set to rise during the current recession.

The OFT is highlighting the trend as part of Scam Awareness month which seeks to stop people being conned and parting with their cash.

'Easy opportunities'

Last year 209 people reported misleading home working schemes to the government's consumer advice body Consumer Direct but the OFT says this figure is the tip of the iceberg.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7875785.stm

Severe weather conditions boost work-at-home jobs argument

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:34:00 -0600

Workwhistle (London,UK) -- Severe weather conditions in London and the South-East today have seen millions of staff work from home instead of commute into the office. With broadband now common across the country, landline and mobile networks covering most of the country, and many people now set up to work-at-home extremely productively, the conditions have led to the question - why do we ever commute in?

Couldn't your office-based job be just as effectively completed at home as it is in the office? What would you actually miss from a home-based job rather than one in which you travel in each day?

One way to work from home: Virtual assistants

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:12:00 -0600

The only boss Jessica Maes has to make coffee for is herself, although she might need to serve milk to her young son in the course of her work day. Her job, done from an office in her Madison home, allows her that flexibility.
Maes is a virtual assistant, a self-employed administrative assistant who works with clients primarily via e-mail, Internet, phone or fax.

"A virtual assistant is a small business owner who works with other small business owners to accomplish administrative tasks involved in running a business," Maes explained. "I do things my clients don't have time to do or don't want to do."

Her regular tasks include scheduling appointments, monitoring e-mail and voice mail, maintaining databases or mailing lists. and proofing copy. She might keep track of receipts or other light bookkeeping, create Web sites or blogs, or help with social networking.

<http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/435810>

Tips For Avoiding Work-At-Home Scams

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:17:00 -0600

CBS 5 - San Francisco,CA,USA
With California's unemployment rate now over 9%, people are looking everywhere for jobs. Some are turning to ads and websites offering work that you can do at home, with little or no training. But, legal experts say most work-at-home opportunities are probably scams, that have been around since the Great Depression.

California's Better Business Bureau said it has received 400 complaints about the website Processathome.com. The site promises you can earn up to $225 a day processing rebates, with less than 60 minutes of training.

Other so called job "opportunities" to watch out for ...
<http://cbs5.com/consumer/scam.telecommute.work.2.921830.html>

Surge in work-at-home-jobs expected from out of work job seekers with web access

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 09:42:00 -0600

Workwhistle.com - News Editor

While many economic commentators have concentrated on the striking event driven similarities with the recessions of the 70s and early 90s, such as oil prices or property inflation, there is one crucial area by which the current severe downturn is significantly different from previous economic low points - the technology and internet booms have taken place since the last bust. As a result some analysts are predicting a rise in home-based, technology driven entrepreneurs and work-at-home opportunists who use the power of the internet to turn dollar (or pound or euro!) in tough times, after losing their jobs.

No longer do those made redundant from their jobs return home, isolated from co-workers or ex-colleagues, unable to take immediate action and reliant on others, local papers, ads or word of mouth to find work. A majority of people now have a PC or laptop at home, however old or basic, and an internet connection that is cheap enough to keep running even if you are cutting back on most luxury costs.

No longer are the financial obstacles a significant barrier to those who no longer have a job and want to start their own business. You don't need a shop or a factory - you have the internet and that has the potential to connect you with millions of people worlwide. Suddenly the ability to drive work from the comfort of your own home is real, and what might seem like a nadir could turn out to be the dawning of a new work-at-home job, career or even your own business.

Work-at-home schemes circulate, target jobless

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:17:00 -0600

Hillsboro Argus - OregonLive.com - Hillsboro,OR,USA
Work-at-home jobs can be a great benefit to both the employee and the company. But job seekers should beware that work-at-home schemes are constantly ...
<http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1229710823310830.xml&coll=6>